2008-01-16
For Athlete’s third release, the band built on sounds captured on laptops while touring the United States. They recorded and produced the album themselves in a studio they built near their U.K. homes. Self-producing the CD may have been a mistake. A producer could have pushed them to be more creative, to test their limits. An undercurrent of potential runs through the CD, which makes the lackluster release especially frustrating. One major blunder on the CD is the insensitivity of the fist-pumping anthem “Hurricane” in light of Katrina’s devastation. In addition to a quote gone awry (“This is something we’ve gotta get used to”), lead singer Joel Pott sings, "Oh, hurricane. What you gonna do to us this time?” Us? The song sets up the U.K. boys as outsiders, which makes establishing a connection with the music difficult. --MLGPETER WOLF CRIER
Garden of Arms
Bless You Boys
Armed to the Teeth
JJ Cale
To Tulsa and Back
BUTTERFLY BOUCHER
Scary Fragile
DEREK WEBB
The Ringing Bell
Joseph Arthur and The Lonely Astronauts
- Temporary People
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